Democratic Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger has vowed to overhaul the states education system. The plan aims to strengthen Virginias K-12 schools as the state faces a teacher shortage and low rankings on its post-COVID educational recovery.In addition to addressing the teacher shortage through recruitment and support plans, Spanberger aims to ensure academic rigor while "modernizing crumbling schools." Additionally, shes looking to reject efforts to take funding from public schools and diverting it to voucher programs."Virginias kids deserve strong schools that prepare them for success regardless of their ZIP code," Spanberger is quoted as saying at the top of her plan.POTENTIAL YOUNGKIN SUCCESSOR FOCUSED ON MESSAGE IN TOUGH RACE TO KEEP SWING-STATE 'RED'The Education Recovery Scorecard found Virginia ranked 41st in reading recovery between 2019 and 2024, while it ranked 51st behind all states and D.C. in math recovery. Additionally, the state ranked 46th in math improvement over the same period."The federal pandemic relief dollars may be gone, but the pandemics impact lingers in many Virginia schools. Even without federal relief dollars, states could be targeting continuing federal Title I dollars and state dollars to implement interventions which have been shown effective, such as tutoring and summer learning," the organization wrote in a press release announcing Virginias rankings.Spanberger isnt just aiming to bring more teachers into the classroom, shes also advocating for higher salaries for Virginia educators, which she believes will help "keep our best and brightest in the classroom."Education was a hallmark issue of Virginias last gubernatorial race with now-Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe debating parents involvement in the classroom. This came as controversy erupted over heated school board meetings in Virginas Loudoun County. Many cited McAuliffes remark that parents should not tell schools what to teach as their reason for voting for Youngkin, who championed parents rights.OPINION: AMERICANS NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIX EDUCATION. WEVE BOTH DONE IT BEFORE ON OPPOSITE SIDESIn March, Spanberger slammed Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running for Virginia governor as a Republican, when they proposed public school funding cuts. She called the proposal "misguided" and expressed hope that "Democrats in our General Assembly will take the necessary steps to protect these important investments."Spanberger also appeared to take a swipe at Youngkin in a June interview with Dogwood, seeming to accuse the governor of playing politics with education."We have to stop trying to pit parents against teachers or parents against educators for political reasons," Spanberger told Dogwood.On her website and in her education plan, Spanberger emphasizes her personal interest in Virgina public education as her three daughters are all students in the system."As a mom, Im so grateful for the hardworking, dedicated Virginians who make sure our children have a safe, positive, and productive school day. As Governor, Ill make sure our educators get the support they need to continue providing a world-class education for our Commonwealths kids," Spanberger wrote in a social media post on Wednesday.The Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls plan also includes efforts to strengthen child care and higher education in Virginia.For higher education, Spanberger is looking to both make it more affordable for students while also investing in Virginias Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The state is home to several higher education institutions, including Virginia Tech, University of Virginia and George Mason University, among others. Its HBCUs include Hampton University, Virginia State University and several others.In her plan, Spanberger also says shes looking to ensure that Virginia parents have access to "high-quality child care in their area." However, this push is about more than ensuring good child care, its also about improving the states worker retention by helping ease the burden on working parents.Fox News Digital reached out to Sears' campaign but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Officials are speaking out after recent reports putting tourism declines in Sin City in the spotlight.On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) held its board of directors meeting, addressing various factors that have been impacting tourism.Steve Hill, LVCVA president, reportedly spoke about the effect that tariffs are having on both returning and potential new visitors.VEGAS CASINO OWNER FIRES BACK AT 'EXAGGERATED' CLAIMS OF SIN CITY'S DEMISE"Some of the decisions our administration has made around international relations [have] caused a drop in tourism," said Hill, according to local outlet KTNV Las Vegas.Hill added, "Our international visitation is flat but is making up for a 20+% drop in tourism from Canada, which is our largest international source of visitation."Fox News Digital reached out to LVCVA for comment.Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens recently told Fox News Digitalthat international tourism is down across an array of locations."I think everyone is in a position where you can say we're missingsome of our Canadian friendswho aren't visiting this year," said Stevens.LAS VEGAS CASINO CULTURE SUFFERS REJECTION BY GAMBLERS OF YOUNGER GENERATIONSNevada is among the top five most visited states by Canadians, according to the U.S. Travel Association.The association warned that the United States could see a 10% reduction in Canadian travel, which is about 2 million fewer visits, according to recent reports.The LVCVA board recently approved a $20 million sponsorship agreement for the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix.The agreement will extend the race through 2027 an event that could boost tourism numbers.The board also discussed developments at theHarry Reid Airport which has also seen a decline, dropping 4.1% year to date compared to the same time last year, according to the website.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERStevens said he believes the lack ofinternational visitorsright now may be due to the overall global economy and exchange rates.Amid some uncertainty, he said the industry has acknowledged the economy has slowed a bit."I think in six months, I would believe that Vegas tourism and our economy overall will be in a much better place," predicted Stevens.He noted the finalization of trade agreements will provide stability and "set the table going forward."For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleRobby Starbuck, conservative activist and host of "The Robby Starbuck Show," previously told Fox News Digital it is not just prices that are keeping people out of Vegas these days."Now nearly everyone under 40 who bets seems to do it online," Starbuck said."Another differentiator is that older generations focused on real-life interaction while younger generations feel just as content with parasocial online experiences," he said. "The Vegas marketing image is one centered on slots and showgirls, two things young people have no interest in," said Starbuck.

NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. slammed online rumors that he was going to call it quits.A fake social media account pretending to be an ESPN NFL insider posted on X that Beckham was going to call it a career after 11 years in the league. The photo along with the post showed Beckham with his child outside MetLife Stadium where he started his NFL career.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMBeckham caught wind of it and appeared to be unhappy."LOL WTF when was that announced and by who? Thats funny , appreciate the concerns but this Shxt aint over yet," he wrote in response to the fake account.He then implored NFL fans to be wary of what theyre reading on the internet."No seriously. Plz stop reading everything on the internet, and stop texting me happy retirement b4 u p--s me off," he added. "That will get no response. I promise u the day Im done I will let u kno. Again if u text me happy retirement im just gon have to block u. Thanks."DREW BREES TALKS SAINTS EXPECTATIONS, BO NIX'S SOPHOMORE SEASON WITH SEAN PAYTON, AND REVIVAL OF NFL PRESEASONThe Giants selected Beckham out of LSU with the No. 12 pick of the 2014 draft. He quickly made a huge impact on the field and at one point was being compared to Jerry Rice with some of the numbers he was putting up.He had 390 catches for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns in 56 games with the Giants. However, Beckhams antics on the field didnt appear to please Giants ownership. He was traded to the Cleveland Browns before the 2019 season and bounced around the league from there.He helped the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl in 2021, but an injury in the game had him on the mend for the entire 2022 season. He played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and the Miami Dolphins in 2024.Hes still a free agent heading into the 2025 season.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Theres always a new shiny piece of tech out there to try, but you dont always want to drop thousands to get it. Luckily, the lead up to Labor Day features huge sales on everything tech-related.Weve rounded up the best tech deals on sale early as Labor Day approaches, from Apple Watches to HP laptops and Bose headphones. Whether youre a seasoned gadget guru or youre just looking to upgrade your trusty old laptop, you can save big with these deals.Both Samsung and Apple devices are currently on sale. Whether you want the latest Samsung phone or one of Apples high-tech watches, weve lined up some of the best deals.Original price: $1,219.99Users looking for Samsungs most lightweight option should look no further than theSamsung Galaxy S25 Edge. The Galaxy S25 Edge features a 200MP camera that captures videos and pictures in any setting. Even when taking images or videos in dark and noisy rooms, you can minimize unwanted sounds and use Night Video to fully capture whats around you.Also included with the S25 Edge are the same AI features in many of Samsungs latest releases. You get personalized insight into your schedule to help prepare for your day.Original price: $899.99TheGalaxy Z Flip7 offers a modern take on an old classic. Instead of dealing with an oversized phone, you can fold it in half to fit your phone into your pocket. Even when your phone is shut, you can customize your phones screen, adding apps, widgets and shortcuts right from the FlexWindow. Although its a small phone, it has a big battery and a fast processor.Get theGalaxy Z Flip7 on Samsungs siteoron Amazon.Original price: $399Apples Series 10 Watch has up to 30% more screen area than previous generations. Its also designed to be lighter and more comfortable for long-term wear. iPhone users can easily pair the two devices and see notifications and alerts on their Watch. An Apple Watch Series 10 can also double as your personal health assistant, giving you the ability to take an ECG at any time and providing notifications when you have a high or low heart rate.When paired with the Workout app, the built-in fitness tracker can better plan your workouts and track their intensity. Divers and swimmers can even wear their watch during their favorite water activities.Walmart also has the Apple Watch Series 10 for $100 off.Original price: $249TheApple Watch SE is the perfect fitness partner, providing insights into your health and fitness routines. You get alerted if you have an irregular heart rate, and the watch is water-resistant, so you can wear it while swimming. You can get even more metrics and ways to train when you connect to the Workout app.With your Apple Watch SE, you can seamlessly connect between your different Apple devices. This means you can send a text, take a call, listen to music and podcasts and use Siri.BAG A BIG SCREEN BARGAIN WITH UP TO 50% OFF TVSIf youre ready to upgrade your headphones, there are some high-quality brands on sale at the moment. You can get Apple AirPods, Beats and other popular brands at a significant discount.Original price: $249Apple AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds feature pro-level noise cancellation, adaptive audio, transparency mode and personalized spatial audio. The headphones offer a scientifically validated hearing test and clinical-grade hearing aid capability. You can alsograb these earbuds on sale for $169 at Walmart.Original price: $349.99Do you prefer over-the-ear headphones? TheseBeats Studio Pro headphones offer a high-end sound. When you still want to hear some background noise, you can activate the Ambient Noise feature so you can be more aware. The one-touch pairing feature allows you to seamlessly connect your headphones to your Apple or Android devices.Walmart also has Beats Studio Pro headphones on sale.Original price: $149.95TheJBL Tune 770NC headphones deliver strong bass, long battery life and decent adaptive noise cancellation. You get up to 44 hours of playback with ANC enabled, and a remarkable 70 hours with ANC turned off.You can also download the free JBL Headphones App and adjust the sound to your liking.Original price: $299Bose Ultra Open earbuds allow you to hear the world around you while still privately enjoying your favorite music, podcasts and audiobooks. They have Boses immersive audio built in that helps you feel more connected to what youre listening to. Designed to fit comfortably, the flexible joint and hook-like shape keep the earbuds in place for hours. Acoustic mesh makes the earbuds waterproof, so they're ideal for runners and athletes.Bose also has Ultra Open earbuds on sale in a variety of gorgeous colors.Tablets give you more freedom than desktops or laptops, making it easier to work on the go and get schoolwork done anywhere. Here are a few tablets currently on sale.Original price: $349The latest version ofApples latest iPadis one of the more affordable, high-tech tablets out there, perfect for email, social media and watching all your favorite TV shows and movies. The retina 11-inch display is sharp, bright and can even adjust depending on the light around you. There are several versions with different storage capacities, although the base 128 GB will be enough for most people.An artist's dream, the iPad has acompatible Apple Pencilthat makes drawing ultra-realistic, and it can even recognize your handwriting. Themagic keyboard folioturns your iPad into a fully functioning laptop and detaches and attaches with a simple click.To protect your iPad, ahard-cover iPad caseand ascreen protectorare a must. They'll prevent cracks and scratches from everyday wear and tear.Original price: $1,299Apple's iPad Pro 13-inch is the thinnest, most lightweight model yet and the top of Apple's iPad range.The iPad is powered by Apple's M4 chip, one of Apple's most advanced chips that helps with processing speeds. Paired with the extra-long battery life, you can do everything you'd do on a laptop, just with more mobility.10 SMART HOME DEVICES THAT CAN MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER AND SAVE MONEYWhether you work from home or have a kid heading off to college, you could use a good deal on a new laptop. Weve lined up some options from popular brands like Apple, HP and Microsoft.Original price: $1,198TheApple 2025 MacBook Air 13.6-inch laptop is powered by Apple's new M4 chip, which offers enhanced performance and efficiency. The M4 chip makes the laptop run faster and provides more fluidity for tasks like navigating between different apps, editing videos or gaming. You get up to 18 hours of battery life, and this model has 16GB of unified memory and three years of AppleCare.MACBOOK AIR HITS RECORD LOW PRICE AMID APPLE DISCOUNTSOriginal price: $599.99ThisHP Chromebook Plus runs Googles Chromebook software, making it simple to use. The touchscreen can be flipped over to turn the laptop into a tablet or a TV-style screen. Its more than fast enough for most users, and youll get regular software updates from Google, along with a host of AI features built in.Original price: $1,199.99TheMicrosoft Surface Pro is a 2-in-1 laptop and tablethybrid with impressive AI capabilities. The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard attaches and detaches with a simple click, making it easy to switch from laptop to tablet in seconds. You get a 14-hour battery life and fast charging. Copilot, the AI system, provides real-time subtitles for 44 different languages, and it automatically improves your lighting and cancels out noise when youre on calls.For more deals, visitwww.foxnews.com/dealsOriginal price: $399.99TheLenovo IdeaPad is a no-frills laptop with a few impressive features. The two Dolby Audio speakers deliver high-quality sound. Plus, the Celeron Intel processor helps you multitask with multiscreen modes, making it easy to take calls or watch shows without stopping your work. Other features like Flip to Start and Smart Noise Cancelling make using this laptop convenient.

A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that theTrump administration can slash up to roughly $2 billion in foreign aid payments that it halted earlier this year, delivering a victory to the Trump administration months after President Donald Trump sought to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled 2-1 to reverse a lower court's decision that ordered the Trump administration to resume paying out the nearly $2 billion in USAID funding that had previously been approved by Congress.Writing for the majority, Judge Karen L. Henderson, a President George H.W. Bush appointee, said that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to sue the Trump administration over its decision to withhold the funds.TRUMP TEMPORARILY THWARTED IN DOGE MISSION TO END USAIDThe plaintiffs, she said, "may not bring a freestanding constitutional claim if the underlying alleged violation and claimed authority are statutory." She was joined in the majority opinion by Judge Greg Katsas, a Trump appointee."Nor do the grantees have a cause of action under the APA because APA review is precluded by the Impoundment Control Act (ICA)," she added."And the grantees may not reframe this fundamentally statutory dispute as an ultra vires claim either.Instead, the Comptroller General may bring suit as authorized by the ICA."The decision is a victory for Trump, whomoved to dismantle USAID and other foreign spending almost immediately after he was sworn in to his second White House term.That decision sparked the ire of foreign aid groups and other recipients of the assistance, who quickly sued over the frozen payments, and argued that the quick dismantling of them risked "immediate and irreparable harm."This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

Former NBC News host Chuck Todd called out Democrats on Tuesday and accused them of "taking the bait" in their response to the Republican redistricting efforts."They're taking the bait. They've decided the only way to fight is to act just as ruthlessly. Revenge redistricting in Illinois, New York, California. And they tell themselves it's self-defense. But in reality, it's exactly what Trump wants, to make his opponents play his illegal and immoral game by his rules in his universe," Todd said during his show, "The Chuck ToddCast."The journalist also suggested Tuesday that the U.S. was headed toward a "cold civil war" amid the ongoing redistricting battles."And here we are. It's the political version of the old saying, when you get into the mud with a pig, you both get dirty and the pig likes it. Replacing, and don't give me this crap, rationalize that, you know, he's a bad mob boss, you've got to do whatever you say, 'We'll be a good mob boss.' The answer is no mob bosses at all," he said.FORMER DEMOCRATIC ADVISOR SAYS PARTY'S RHETORIC ON REDISTRICTING IS GETTING 'A LITTLE OUT OF CONTROL'Beto O'Rourke, a former Democratic Texas Senate candidate, called for the Democratic Party to be "ruthless" in their pursuit of power and endorsed partisan gerrymandering last month.Todd also rejected comparisons to 1930s Germany."Look, I don't like the lazy comparisons to 1930s Germany. I hate the quote second civil war predictions. I'd like to believe that we're a lot better than that," he said during his podcast.He also referenced Godwin's Law and summarized it by saying: "If you can't make your point without invoking the Nazis, then you're probably not very good at debating and making your point."EX-NBC NEWS HOST CHUCK TODD LAMENTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY A 'COLLECTION OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIKE TRUMP'Democratic lawmakers and members of the media have repeatedly compared Trump and his administration to 1930s Germany.Todd went on to argue that it was "uncomfortable" to see mistakes being made "from the 1850s.""But let's be honest, it's a bit uncomfortable seeing how many mistakes from the 1850s, from 1850s America or pre-war Europe in the early 1930s are happening again right here. The normalization of the unacceptable. The rationalizing of just this once well breach our principle.' 'Just this once we'll do this because it's in the name of something bigger and better,'" he said.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURECLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"The founders gave us these tools to prevent this. They feared a king. They feared a united majority trampling on the rest of us. They didn't imagine leaders who would just refuse to use the tools. They didn't. They'd come back here and be appalled," Todd continued.

The president of the Arizona state senate is asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate Arizonas PBS station (KAET) for "viewpoint discrimination" over claims it wrongly influenced the state's contentious 2022 governor's race."As President of the Arizona State Senate, I write to request an investigation into the broadcast license for Arizona PBS," Arizona state senate president Warren Petersen said in a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr obtained by Fox News Digital."Recently uncovered documents show that Arizona PBS violated legal rules, contractual requirements, and long-standing traditions to improperly put its thumb on the scale of the 2022 Arizona governors race," Petersen added.PBS PRESIDENT DECLARES SHE 'CANT MAKE ANY SENSE' OF ACCUSATIONS OF LEFT-WING BIAS"Just like its investigations into ABC News slanted 2024 debate moderation and CBS News hidden 60 Minutes interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris, the FCC should investigate whether Arizona PBS violated its duty to act in the public interest when it engaged in viewpoint discrimination against a candidate for governor," he said.In 2022, during the Arizona gubernatorial race between Democrat Arizona gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs and Republican Kari Lake, Hobbs declined an invitation to debate Lake.Hobbs and Lake did participate in a town hall-style event where each candidate was questioned separately during a forum hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, but Hobbs subsequently refused to debate her opponent. She cited concerns that a debate with Lake would become similar to the Republican primary debate, and would support erroneous claims that the 2020 election was rigged.Lake, a former TV news anchor, had also expressed fears that Democrats would cheat in the2022 election.The Arizona PBS station gave Hobbs whatPetersen called "an unprecedented 30-minute interview" but Lakes solo interview with the outlet, set for Oct. 12, 2022, wascanceled hours before it was set to begin.PBS STATION SINGLES OUT GOP SENATORS IN CONTENTIOUS PUBLIC BROADCASTING FUNDING BATTLEAZ Central reported that "The Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission backed out of the event that was to be hosted in partnership with Arizona PBS (KAET) after the television station agreed to a separate, similar interview with Democrat Katie Hobbs."Petersen alleged that the day after Arizona State Universitys president "questioned the long-standing tradition that would have provided Kari Lake with a solo interview because of her positions on election integrity, university officials internally predicted that Hobbs would win the election."The letter quotes emails between Arizona States Media Enterprise head, Mi-Ai Parrish, who said, "Katie is getting roasted hard, but I dont think it will matter," and a response from the university presidents chief of staff, which said, "I dont think it matters either."In his letter, Petersen said that it took Arizona State University "more than two years743 daysto produce the internal emails exposing these partisan conversations.""Based on the emails between top university officials, Arizona PBS made broadcast decisions based on how it viewed Kari Lakes positions on election integrity and Katie Hobbs electoral prospects," Petersen wrote."Arizona PBS did not act in the public interest because it exhibited broadcaster favoritism for Hobbs and acted in a partisan, discriminatory fashion that was designed to serve the political advantage of a candidate," he added.The Arizona state senate president is asking the FCC to investigate KAET for "PBS blatant viewpoint discrimination against Kari Lake and partisan calculations designed to benefit Katie Hobbs," and the revocation of their license.ARIZONA ICED TEA'S 99-CENT PRICE MAY FINALLY END AFTER 30 YEARS TARIFFS COULD BE TO BLAMEFox News Digital reached out tothe Arizona PBS station and Arizona State University for comment.Arizona State University directed Fox News Digital to this webpage addressing Arizona PBS, which said, in part, "As one method of delivering information on candidates, Arizona PBS had an arrangement with Arizona Clean Elections Commission to host and broadcast debates among candidates for state offices. While the Clean Elections Commission was the producer of the debate, Arizona PBS continued to maintain its responsibilities under its license and to its viewers by providing coverage of the elections separate from and in addition to the debates. Debates are not the sole mechanism for informing the public about elections."It added that, "In 2022, one of the planned debates was for the office of Governor of Arizona between Republican nominee Kari Lake and Democratic nominee Katie Hobbs. When Hobbs decided not to debate Lake, the Clean Election Commissions plan to proceed with a one-party debate conflicted with Arizona PBSs licensing requirements. Arizona PBS was prepared to move ahead with a different format with the Clean Elections Commission to allow each candidate to speak and be interviewed about their candidacy on Arizona PBS. Hobbs chose to accept the interview invitation. Lake ultimately decided not to do so."Earlier this month, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides funding to PBS and NPR, announced it would be shutting down following Congress passing legislation to revoke taxpayer funds from CPB.

University of Alabama senior and Zeta Tau Alpha member Kylan Darnell has announced she is taking a "step back" from recruitment and from posting about the sorority rush craze sweeping college campuses.Darnell, the reigning Miss Ohio Teen USA, has spent the past three years sharing an inside look at sorority life, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the "Bama Rush" phenomenon that has captivated college campuses and social media users alike. But this year, she says, will be different."I just wanted to come on here because I am somebody that has painted my whole college life, my whole sorority life online," Darnell said in a TikTok video. "Theres been good and bad. But today, Im not all dressed up for recruitment. Ive personally decided to take a mental health day for the next three days."Raised in Ohio, far from the deep-rooted Southern sorority traditions, Darnell admitted she arrived at the University of Alabama with little understanding of rush.SOUTHERN SORORITY GIRLS PUT THROUGH 'PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE' IN CUTTHROAT BAMA RUSH RECRUITMENT: COACH"I had no idea my life would turn into what it has," she said. "I didnt know you werent supposed to post on social media. I didnt know it was frowned upon. I had no idea about the backlash, or the positivity, that would come with it."Brandis Bradley, a sorority coach, referred to the recruitment process as "psychological warfare" in an interview with PEOPLE."It's emotional boot camp," Bradley told the outlet. "And their frontal lobes aren't even fully developed."Darnell's introduction to Greek life came when her mother took her to Sorority Row before freshman year. "I was hooked," she recalled, despite initial hesitation from her parents. With no friends and no knowledge of the houses, she threw herself into rush with fresh eyes.On the first day of recruitment, Darnell filmed a short TikTok explaining the process to her familys group chat. That casual clip went viral before shed even finished orientation, catapulting her into influencer status. Since then, shes garnered 1.2M faithful followers and 82.7 million likes, sharing everything from philanthropy events to sisterhood activities.FORMER LSU GYMNAST OLIVIA DUNNE IN TEARS OVER STALKING FEARS: 'I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO'While she described the journey as "fun" and "something I wouldnt trade," Darnell said it hasnt been easy."Its also been really hard to navigate college while being under a microscope," Darnell previously told Fox News Digital. "People forget that were real people."The scrutiny has intensified over time, she said, and this years rush feels "a lot worse" and "more amped up." She asked followers not to tag her in posts about other girls, saying it only fuels unnecessary drama.WATCH: Sorority women break down real story behind Bama Rush and TikTok fame"I put myself in a position to be talked about online, but please just dont involve me in other girls posts," she urged.Darnell said her decision to step back isnt about discouraging others from rushing; in fact, she still supports it, but wants to protect her own well-being."I was somebody that my freshman through junior year, I lived for my sorority. I loved my sorority. I loved waking up and showing you guys the sides of it, what we would do, the activities, the sisterhood, the philanthropy. It was so much fun to me," Darnell said."There was a point in my life that my personality was sorority, but I've grown, and it's not really like that anymore."GEORGIA SORORITY GIRL SEEN IN 'SMILING' MUGSHOT ARRESTED AGAIN WEEKS AFTER 1ST RUN IN WITH POLICEDarnell said her decision to "take a couple steps back" is to protect her own peace."I personally feel that if I was to post this year and to promote it (rush), then I would be doing those girls an injustice," Darnell explained."Now I'm not saying don't rush. I loved it. But I'm just saying that I'm in a mental health spot where I've been struggling. I can't go online this year and I won't lie to you guys about it. I've just not been enjoying it. I've not been having fun."Support poured in from followers, with one commenter praising her "integrity at such a young age" and another writing, "Always choose you and whats best for you. Your TikTok fam has your back!"Darnell said while she is still an active member of her sorority, she will take the next three days off from posting online and helping with recruitment to help her little sister with rush and enjoy time with her family.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"My family's here, my friends are here and I'm gonna help my little sister go through recruitment because I can already tell it's gonna be really hard for her. That is why I'm not participating this morning. I just need a break because I can't lie to myself anymore this week because I'm really struggling with it. Anyway, I love you all."Bid Day for thousands of Alabama sorority hopefuls is set for August 17, but this year, Darnell will be watching from the sidelines, prioritizing peace over performance.

EXCLUSIVE: Three new states have signed agreements of varying intensity and substance, with one governor 1,700 miles away from Mexico saying his is effectively a "border state" due to its major fentanyl crisis.On Wednesday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey will announce one of the most wide-ranging agreements a state has forged with ICE yet, enlisting the West Virginia State Police, Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation and National Guard to aid immigration enforcement through the "287(g)" authority heralded by President Donald Trump.West Virginia has long ranked among the states with the highest rates of drug-related deaths, a crisis that Morrisey says underscores the need to work with ICE to combat fentanyl trafficking."Under the Biden administration, millions of people poured into our country unlawfully and we had no knowledge about who they were, or whether they were a threat to our nation," Morrisey told Fox News Digital ahead of his expected Wednesday mid-morning announcement in Parkersburg.WY GOVERNOR GREENLIGHTS STATE TROOPERS TO JOIN ICE IN IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN"West Virginia became an effective border state due to the massive fentanyl problem caused by illegal immigration," he said.The National Guard and state police will have "task force" authority to interrogate any person believed to be an illegal immigrant as to his right to remain in the U.S. under the supervision or direction of the feds.Officers will be able to process immigration-related violations for those arrested for state or federal offenses, and can also make warrantless arrests of any illegal immigrant in the officers "presence or view" if that person is believed to be a flight risk in the interim of obtaining a warrant.Morrisey also authorized state law enforcement to serve immigration warrants, administer oaths and collect evidence for "required alien processing," including fingerprints and suspect interviews.Unlike some other states, West Virginia law enforcement will also be able to issue immigration detainers, prepare documents for approval from federal ICE officers and arrest felonious aliens who have the penchant to escape.West Virginia Division of Corrections will be permitted to hold immigrants on detainer, so long as the actions fall under federal auspices.Corrections officers will be able to follow the federal "warrant officer model," which includes serving warrants for immigration violations in jails and transferring custody to the feds.Farther west, South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden recently announced cooperation with ICE to a lesser extent with his "Operation Prairie Thunder" public safety crackdown.Rhoden, who rose to the governorship upon the departure of now-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, announced earlier this month that Operation Prairie Thunder would be a "comprehensive, targeted public safety initiative" in the state with a focus on the Sioux Falls metro area.The anti-crime effort seeks to interdict drugs, probe gang activity and "deter lawlessness."TEXAS BILL REQUIRING SHERIFFS TO COLLABORATE WITH ICE GIVEN INITIAL APPROVAL BY STATE HOUSEIt includes a "comprehensive effort to support the work of [ICE], secure our borders and deport illegal alien criminals," according to a statement.The South Dakota Highway Patrol will be able to assist ICE, and six South Dakota National Guard soldiers will be tasked with helping the agency with administrative functions."Our work alongside ICE boils down to this: Highway Patrol will support ICE with arrests," Rhoden said."The National Guard will support ICE with processing and administrative functions. And DOC will support ICE with transportation, identifying illegal immigrants in our prisons, and getting them paroled to ICE custody."In Arkansas, a state law took effect this week that increases penalties for illegal immigrants committing "serious felonies involving violence," among other stipulations.The "Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act," signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, also allowed Arkansas sheriffs to engage with ICE.It allows law enforcement to apply via 287(g) to be authorized to serve immigration warrants on illegal immigrants already in custody for other offenses.Arkansas State Police will go beyond the minimum cooperation required by the law, according to the Arkansas Times.Cops will be able to stop people in public and ask them their immigration status and potentially arrest suspected violators.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPA spokeswoman for the state police told the outlet that troopers must undergo training before any can work in an immigration-related capacity.The regimen includes a 40-hour online course laying out officers "scope of authority, immigration law, civil rights law, cross-cultural issues, liability issues, complaint procedures and obligations under federal law," the spokeswoman said.Sanders credited Trump with making border security a top priority and obtaining results."The Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act makes it clear: Arkansas will not tolerate violent, criminal illegals and will do our part to help the Trump administration keep our citizens safe," the former Trump press secretary said in a statement.Those states join Florida and Wyoming, the first two to sign substantive 287(g) agreements with ICE.

Several Democratic states are facing scrutiny over their own congressional maps amid the push back to Texas redistricting efforts.Specifically, numerous states had a significant percentage vote for President Donald Trump in 2024 but have little or no congressional representation for Republicans.For example, Trump won nearly 46% of the vote in New Mexico, but none of the state's three seats are held by Republicans. Currently, the Cook Partisan Voting Index is even for the Second Congressional District, which is considered highly competitive. The current maps were kept after a ruling from the New Mexico Supreme Court despite gerrymandering concerns.DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST SAYS PARTY LACKS 'MORAL AUTHORITY' ON TEXAS REDISTRICTING FIGHTConnecticut voted nearly 42% for the president but has no seats that Republicans won in 2024. Illinois is considered one of the most gerrymandered states, with Republicans currently only holding three of 17 seats, which is considered a 26% advantage to Democrats. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who has stood in support of the efforts of Texas Democrats to leave the state to thwart redistricting votes, faced questioning from late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert about the current map."If you are considering doing a little more redrawing in Illinois, you already have some crazy districts in Illinois. Take a look at this. Look at [district] 17 here. It does that, then it comes up here, and it sneaks around there and goes all the way up here and then goes right over there like that," Colbert said on the Illinois map last week. "Is this common for all states to do?" Pritzker said it was up to the independent redistricting commission, but said the way Texas seeks to redraw its maps mid-decade is problematic."That is extraordinarily rare," Pritzker said. "And the way they are doing it is taking voting rights away from Black and Brown people. They are literally obliterating districts that were written according to the Voting Rights Act. So this is going to end up in court if they are actually able to do it."NETWORKS POUNCE ON REPUBLICAN REDISTRICTING. THEY DIDNT CARE WHEN DEMOCRATS DID ITCalifornia saw Trump win 38% of the vote but just nine out of 52 congressional seats, or 17%. This is considered a 21% Democratic advantage in seats as the state considers adding five Democratic seats to counteract Texas, with a special election for voter approval being scheduled for November."We are talking about emergency measures to respond to whats happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a press conference last week. New York has a 13% Democratic lead in seats, with seven out of 26 currently having Republican representation, and Trump won 43% of the vote in the state. Oregon has a 24% Democratic lead while the Trump wing has 41% of the vote there.New Jersey saw Trump at 46% of the vote, but the state only has three Republicans out of the 12 congressional seats, and Maryland has only one Republican representative despite 34% of the vote going toward the president, placing the state at a 22% Democratic advantage with eight districts in total.GOV. GREG ABBOTT THREATENS TO REDISTRICT 8 SEATS FOR GOP IF DEM LAWMAKERS DON'T RETURN TO TEXASRepublican states have also faced their fair share of gerrymandering lawsuits in the past, but Democratic strategist Julian Epstein pointed out on "Fox News Live" over the weekend that Democrats are not immune from criticism on the issue."No, I think they dont have the moral authority, and theres a lot of pearl-clutching going on," he said."The Democrats dont have clean hands here. You look at states like Massachusetts, New Jersey[] Illinois, California, and Democrats have effectively gerrymandered Republicans out of existence," Epstein added.Many Texas House Democrats remain out of the state to prevent a quorum that would permit the redistricting plan to move forward in the Lone Star State, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says those members will likely be subject to arrest upon their return."We have a situation where lawmakers are violating the law in Article 3 of the Texas Constitution, where they are required to act on bills. Because they're violating that constitutional mandate, that means they are not fulfilling their oath of office, and they can be removed from office in this legal action that I'm taking," he told "Fox News Sunday."